Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-06
ON A DESERTED ISLAND.
Adventures OF Hunters I'm Jamaica
Ray.
New York Times.l

1t would be hard TO find three more as.
tonished men yesterday than George
Blake, the Brooklyn special policeman (;
Louis Strultwolf, sunsmith, Of Alabama
avenue, East New York, and Archie An
drews, OF the same place. They arc the
three duck.hunters who were imprisoned
on Blackwell island after an experience in
an open boat with the ice in Jamaica bay.
They were met yesterday morning by
Charles Ward, OF Rockaway Beach, who
went out after them, and he showed them
the newspaper accounts OF their perllous
journey across the nay.
Some OF the natives at R0ckaway, by
means Of an elongated and ancient opera
glass, thought they saw an upturned boat
on strip OF marsh land to the north OF
Blackwell island. They immediately
jumped to the conclusion that 1t was the
boat belonging to Mortimer Smelk which
the three hunters from East New York had
hired, and further concluded that the
three men were in extreme peril from ex-
posure to Sundays terrible cold, and that
the chances Of their surviving were ex.
tremely small. This report was sent broad
cast through East New York and spread
CONSERVATION among friends OF the
hunters.
A pretty Scotchwoman, however, who
came up from the beach, said she knew the
men were safe on Blackwell island, and
would get ashore that night. SiruttwolPs
wife had been confined only few days be-
fore, and the doctor said that II her husband
did not return, or II the rumor that he was
dead reached her ears, she would not sur
vive day longer. East New York was
greatly excited. Detective Conrad was sent
n l.n MI I'D hot ha
men were all right on the island. Yesterday
morning, however. he was given orders 10
reach Blackwell without fail, and get the
exact facts. He passed the men on train
coming home. This is The story OF their
trip:
On Sunday afternoon they started out to
20 duck. shooting on Jamaica bay. Reach
ing the seaside House they found little fee
in the channel and saw no reason why they
should not indulge intheir proposed sport.
The Rockaway wiseacres sald they bad better
not go out. but, in the words OF special
Officer Blake, they were not "chicken-
hearted" and hiring a, boat they set out
across the channel. This portion OF water
was free from ice, and they reached Smelk's
island all right. After chase upaud down
the stretch OF land to warm themselves they
started for another piece OF marshy beach
three quarters OF a mile beyond. In this
part of their journey the tide began to back
the floating ice In upon them, but they
managed TO work along TO the beach. Here
further athletic exercises for the sake of in
creasine circulation were INDUCED in.
The Journey from this beach TO Black
wall island, the point first aimed for, was
more difficult. The ice bothered them con-
Siderably, and 1t began to look little Pc
rilous. Two OF the men got out on the Ice
and pushed and pulled the boat, the water
over the ice reaching little over their an
kles. They were clad In substantial rubber
boots and didn't mind this. Struttwolf re-
NAMED in the boat, as he had on leaky
boots. He was the only man in the party
who got his feet wet. The Ice crunched
under the boat, and at times the men broke
IL with the oars. Toward nightfaIl they
reached the island. The ducks were plenty,
and they Immediately set to work to shoot
their suppers; but the birds were wild as
well as numerous. aud the wind bothered
the hunters so that only one duck shot by
George Blake) was obtained.
Blackwell island is famous place for
ducks in icy times. During the day the
birds 20 out into the open sea to feed and
at night come back to the island TO rest.
With their one duck the men explored the
island. The prospect was not cheerful,
but had no element of danger. They found
one man ON the island, Charles Davenport.
who In summer keeps an oyster shanty for
fishermen. All the other inhabitants had
gone ashore for the holidays and had not
returned. Davenport was nearly out OF
provisions. His relatives were to bring in
supplies on their return, which he daily
expected, and he bad reduced his stock TO
portion that would only last one man a
day. He cheerfuily divided his store with
the three invaders, however, and they
stewed the duck. Monday morning
there was nothing TO eat. Strut
wolf is locksmith, and he inquired
II there was any wire In the sbanty. Pro-
curing piece, the men went over to
Charles Hamburg's shsnty, and after ten
minutes work had picked the lock. Inside
was bonanza. Great pieces OF meat hung
from the ceiling and there was plenty OF
-four. The men helped themselves ana
baked cakes for breakfast. Knowing no.
thing OF the alarm their friends were under
going, they spent the day in such harmless
sports as try ing 10 see how many duck-shot
they could put in the bottom OF an empty
tomsto.can at thirty PAGES. HamDurg's
provisions furnished dinner and supper.
At night they went duck-bunting again,
but without success, as there was no wind
TO wait the ducks In from the ocean. They
thought longingiy Of home, but the journey
back looked impossible on account oil the
ice, which formed barrier about the island.
At Roekaway, mean while, there was con-
siderable excitement. Charlie Ward at
tempted to 90 QUITO the Rufile Back. where
the men were supposed to be. He got as
far rs Smiths island, ana then had to re-
turn. AT Z O'Clock yesterday morning he
started out again with bis duck-boat, which
Is fixed on runners. With an Alpine stat
on which an ice-pick was fastened he started
over the ice, pulling along his combination
sled and boat. During the low tide In the
night Ice had formed which was strong
and 10 some places thick. lie picked his
way sturdIly along, and ia two hours
reached the Island, which Is not over two
sud half miles from the Seaside. House
dock. He told tho astonIshed men that
their mourning yeIntives were buslIy. en-
anxed n colnprfInG the values q their ~